Suffixes

After the long hike, my water bottle was completely empty. It was waterless. In this context, what does the suffix -less mean?

• full of

• without

• able to be

• the act of

Answer explanation

The suffix -less means 'without.' A waterless bottle is a bottle without any water.

Match each base word to the suffix that changes it into a noun.

• -sion (the act of)

• decide

• -ment (the result of)

• sad

• -ness (the state of)

• achieve

Answer explanation

The suffix -sion changes 'decide' to the noun 'decision'. The suffix -ment changes 'achieve' to the noun 'achievement'. The suffix -ness changes 'sad' to the noun 'sadness'.

My little brother's drawing was so messy it was barely recognizable. Which word best describes the drawing?

• recognize

• recognition

• recognizable

• recognizing

Answer explanation

The suffix -able creates an adjective meaning 'able to be.' The drawing was barely 'able to be recognized.' The other forms do not fit the sentence grammatically.

Sort these words based on their word class, which is determined by their suffix.

Groups:

(a) Nouns

,

(b) Adjectives

• kindness

• joyful

• happiness

• active

• movement

• dangerous

Answer explanation

Suffixes like -ness and -ment typically form nouns (a thing, state, or concept), while suffixes like -ful, -ous, and -ive typically form adjectives (describing words).

Which sentence uses a word with a suffix incorrectly?

• The adventurous cat climbed the tallest tree.

• My teacher is a very patient person.

• The movie was full of exciteful moments.

• His optimism is contagious.

Answer explanation

The suffix -ful is used incorrectly with the root 'excite'. The correct adjective form is 'exciting' or 'excitable.' 'Exciteful' is not a standard English word.

My cousin is a talented pianist who plays in concerts. What does the suffix -ist tell you about the person?

• They are against something.

• They are a person who does or specializes in something.

• They are full of something.

• They are from a certain place.

Answer explanation

The suffix -ist is used to form a noun that refers to a person who practices or is an expert in a particular field, like a pianist who plays the piano.

Match the meaning to the correct root word and suffix combination.

• purpose + -less

• Without fear

• hope + -ful

• Without a purpose

• fear + -less

• Full of hope

Answer explanation

The suffix -less means 'without' (as in fearless, purposeless), and the suffix -ful means 'full of' (as in hopeful).

Read the sentence: 'The teacher asked for everyone's attention.' How does the suffix -tion change the base word attend?

• It changes the verb 'attend' into a noun meaning the act of listening or watching.

• It makes the word mean the opposite of attend.

• It changes the verb 'attend' into an adjective describing someone.

• It doesn't change the meaning, only the spelling.

Answer explanation

The suffix -tion changes a verb (like attend) into a noun (attention) that represents the act, state, or result of that verb.

Sort these adjectives into groups based on the general meaning of their suffixes.

Groups:

(a) Full of / Characterized by (-ous)

,

(b) Tending to / Characterized by (-y)

• famous

• nervous

• sleepy

• cloudy

• messy

• dangerous

Answer explanation

The suffix -ous often means 'full of' a quality (like danger). The suffix -y often means 'characterized by' or 'tending to' (like being sleepy).

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The scientist's new _______ could change the world.'

• invent

• inventive

• invention

• inventor

Answer explanation

The sentence requires a noun as the subject. The suffix -ion creates the noun 'invention,' which means something that has been invented. 'Inventor' is a person, and 'inventive' is an adjective.